Department for Transport

Dial-a-Ride: West Lancashire

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, with reference to paragraph 3.14 of his Department's consultation on the use of section 19 and section 22 permits for road passenger transport in Great Britain, whether the West Lancashire Dial A Ride services will be considered as only occasional and therefore exempt under EU and UK regulations on PSV.

Jesse Norman: I refer the Honourable Member to my answer of 15 May UIN 142802.

Cycling: Electric Vehicles

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding he plans to make available from the Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy to increase the use of electric bikes.

Jesse Norman: The Government’s £1.2 billion Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy outlines the significant investment that is being made to support cycling of all kinds, including cycling on electrically assisted pedal cycles (or “e-bikes”). The Government agrees that e-bikes have significant potential to increase the overall amount of cycling, and the Strategy will help increase the use of both conventional bikes and e-bikes.

Cycling: Electric Vehicles

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential merits of using the Cycle to Work Scheme to support the uptake of electric bikes.

Jesse Norman: The Cycle to Work scheme can already be used to assist with the purchase of electrically assisted pedal cycles, and is one of the many ways in which the Government is supporting active travel choices, as set out in the 2017 Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy. The Department has not made any formal assessment of the number of electrically assisted pedal cycles which have been purchased under the scheme.

Cycling: Electric Vehicles

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to facilitate improved access to and greater uptake of electric bikes in the UK.

Jesse Norman: The Government’s Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy, published in April 2017, summarised the Government’s overall strategy to make cycling and walking the natural choice for shorter journeys. The measures set out in the Strategy, such as the investment that is being made in improved cycle infrastructure, will help to increase all forms of cycling, including cycling on an electrically assisted pedal cycle (or “e-bike”). The Government’s Cycle to Work scheme can also be used to help with the purchase of e-bikes.

Cycling: Electric Vehicles

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment his Department has made of the potential effect of an increase in the uptake of electric bikes on air quality and congestion.

Jesse Norman: The Government agrees that electrically assisted pedal cycles (or “e-bikes”), like other forms of cycling, have the potential to deliver significant benefits in relation to air quality and congestion, as well as in many other areas. We have not carried out any detailed assessment of the potential impact of e-bikes on air quality or congestion, but the Government has regularly encouraged local authorities to consider supporting cycling and walking as ways to improve air quality in their areas.

Lakes Railway Line: Cumbria

Tim Farron: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what assessment he has made of Northern Rail’s performance of running the Lakes line in Cumbria (a) between February and April 2018, (b) the last twelve months and (c) the last two years.

Joseph Johnson: Holding answer received on 15 May 2018



Northern are being formally assessed as every franchise is as part of standard franchise management processes relating to performance. Northern will also be assessed on their compliance to the Train Service Requirement under the franchise agreement. Further, on the Lakes Line, the train operator, is exploring the possibility of delivering an alternatively fuelled trains, such as battery or hydrogen, from the early 2020s.

Driving: Diabetes

Liz McInnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what discussions (a) he, (b) Ministers of his Department and (c) officials of his Department have had with the Department of Health and Social Care on driving and new technology for blood glucose monitoring of drivers with diabetes.

Jesse Norman: Department for Transport officials have advised their counterparts in the Department of Health and Social care of plans to carry out a targeted consultation over the summer with key stakeholders on this issue.

Driving: Diabetes

Liz McInnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether he has requested updated advice from the Medical Advisory Panel on Driving and Visual Disorders on whether or not to allow glucose monitors that measure interstitial fluid rather than blood; and whether his Department has received advice on a minimum accuracy standard for such monitors.

Jesse Norman: The use of interstitial glucose monitoring systems in the context of driving falls within the remit of Secretary of State for Transport’s Honorary Medical Advisory Panel on Driving and Diabetes Mellitus. The panel has recently considered the use of such technology. Following the Panel’s review, this matter will be the subject of a targeted consultation with key stakeholders over the summer.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Yemen: Military Intervention

Keith Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of effect on the local population of the recent Saudi-led coalition airstrikes on the business district in Sana'a, Yemen.

Alistair Burt: The UK does not have access to sufficient information to allow us to make accurate assessments of the effects of every individual action taken by the Saudi-led Coalition.We are acutely aware that during armed conflict civilians often pay a heavy price. This underlines the imperative of reaching a political solution to the crisis. Peace talks are the top priority, as there can be no military solution to the conflict. A political settlement is the only way to bring long-term stability to Yemen and to address the worsening humanitarian crisis. The Yemeni parties must engage constructively and in good faith to overcome obstacles and find a political solution to end the conflict.​

Bangladesh: Elections

Sir David Crausby: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that there is election monitoring (a) in the run-up to and (b) during the forthcoming general election in Bangladesh.

Mark Field: The UK is supporting election monitoring in the run up to the general election in Bangladesh through a Department for International Development project that funds domestic observers to monitor the political environment around the election, including observation of Sub-national elections. The project will also provide local observers to monitor conduct on election day. We have not yet received a request from the Government of Bangladesh to deploy UK election monitors during the general election. Should such an invitation be received, we would consider whether it is appropriate and safe to deploy UK officials. We will continue to engage with the Government of Bangladesh, the Election Commission, and political parties on the need for robust democratic mechanisms and the proper application of election law during the general election.

Department of Health and Social Care

Malnutrition and Obesity

Andrea Jenkyns: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what steps the Government is taking to tackle (a) malnutrition and (b) obesity in acute and community settings.

Steve Brine: To help tackle malnutrition in acute and community settings, NHS England published guidance on ‘Commissioning excellent nutrition and hydration’ in October 2015. The implementation of this guidance is a matter for the local National Health Service. The guidance is available at the following link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/commissioning/nut-hyd/ General practitioners and other healthcare professionals have a key role in ‘making every contact count’ by identifying overweight children and adults, and supporting them with an appropriate intervention or referral and on-going management. To help practitioners deliver the best possible care and give people the most effective treatments the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence has produced a suite of guidance on tackling obesity including ‘Obesity: identification, assessment and management of overweight and obesity in children, young people and adults’, which includes access to all tiers of obesity services. This guidance is available at the following link: www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg189

Breast Cancer: Screening

Siobhain McDonagh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, what estimate he has made of the cost on the public purse in compensation for the next of kin of women who died from breast cancer after not being sent an appointment for routine breast screening.

Steve Brine: No estimate has been made to date of the cost to the public purse for compensation for the next of kin of women who may have subsequently died of breast cancer due to a missed scan.Public Health England will be undertaking a case review over the coming months.

Department for International Development

Charities: Sexual Offences

Hugh Gaffney: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the level of sexual exploitation within the aid sector; and what steps the Government is taking to tackle it.

Alistair Burt: The number of cases reported to the Charity Commission by UK aid charities has increased sharply since the Secretary of State wrote to all of DFID’s major partners in February asking them to confirm that they have referred any and all concerns they have on specific cases to the relevant authorities. As more attention is paid to this topic, we expect reporting to continue to increase as confidence grows that action will be taken. What is clear is that sexual exploitation, abuse and harassment still occurs far too often. That is why the Secretary of State is absolutely determined to drive up safeguarding standards in the aid sector to prevent it occurring, to ensure that victims receive the support they need and to hold perpetrators to account. Since February 2018, the Secretary of State has established a dedicated Safeguarding Unit; written to all of DFID’s major partners seeking assurance about their safeguarding approach; established new working groups with NGOs, donors and experts to identify and test solutions; and announced new safeguarding standards as part of DFID’s due diligence process. She has also taken this message to the international community, leading a collective letter to the UN Secretary General and hosting or speaking at international roundtables with the United Nations, international financial institutions and other donors, including at the recent World Bank Spring Meetings. The UK is leading the change needed on this issue. We have made good progress since March and will continue to use every opportunity possible in the coming weeks and months to push for much more. The Secretary of State will host an international conference in London on the 18th October at which she will seek concrete commitments and actions from donors and all of the partners we work with.

Yemen: Water

Stephen Twigg: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the effect of the blockade in Yemen on the supply and trucking of water across that country.

Alistair Burt: Saudi-led Coalition restrictions on the Red Sea ports of Hodeidah and Saleef (following the Houthi ballistic missile attack on Riyadh on 4 November) were eased on 20 December 2017 and in April imports of fuel rose for the third month in a row, helping to keep critical water treatment plants and clean water trucks running across the country. However, on-going conflict and obstructions are preventing clean water trucks from regularly reaching those in need, particularly in Houthi controlled areas. Furthermore, vital water and sanitation services are close to collapse due to the non-payment of salaries to public sector workers. The UN estimates that, in total, some 16 million people across Yemen lack access to clean water and sanitation. The UK continues to call on all parties to the conflict to allow unhindered commercial and humanitarian access throughout Yemen, including for water and fuel. In addition, the UK’s support of £170 million to Yemen in the financial year 2018/19 includes funding to programmes that provide clean water in Yemen. In the last financial year of 2017/18, our funding of £205 million to Yemen provided clean water and sanitation for an expected 1.2 million people.

Department for Education

Special Educational Needs

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many children with development co-ordination disorder there are in primary school.

Nadhim Zahawi: We publish the number and proportion of pupils with special educational needs, including the type of need and type of school in the annual ‘Special educational needs in England’ statistical release:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-special-educational-needs-sen.Pupils with special educational needs are recorded according to their primary type of need. The current types of need were defined in 2015 and do not include a definition of development co-ordination disorder. The total number of pupils with each primary type of need is available in table 8 of the publication ‘Special educational needs in England: January 2017’ available via the above link.

Pupils: Visual Impairment

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what comparative assessment he has made of the number of school children with visual impairments who are subject to (a) Education Health Care Plans and (b) statements under the previous SEN and learning difficulties assessments in each of the last five years.

Nadhim Zahawi: We publish the number and proportion of pupils with special educational needs (SEN), including the type of need in the annual ‘Special educational needs in England’ statistical release:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-special-educational-needs-sen. Pupils with SEN are recorded according to their primary type of need. The current types of need were defined in 2015, including visual impairment. The attached table shows a breakdown of the number of pupils by each primary type of need available for the last five years (as at January each year).



Pupils_by_primary_type_of_need_2013/17
(PDF Document, 114.05 KB)

Apprentices: Universities

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many universities are registered as apprenticeship providers in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland.

Anne Milton: 102 universities are listed on the Education and Skills Funding Agency’s register of apprenticeship training providers, of which (a) 93 are in England, (b) three are in Wales, (c) five are in Scotland, and (d) one is in Northern Ireland.

T-levels: Public Consultation

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when he plans to publish a response to the feedback on his consultation on the implementation of T-level programmes; and if he will ensure that his response is sufficiently detailed to enable the sector to prepare effectively for the introduction of T-levels in 2020.

Anne Milton: We ran a public consultation from 30 November 2017 to 8 February 2018 to obtain views on the major aspects of our proposals for implementing T levels. This involved publishing our proposals online, alongside a survey for respondents to complete. The consultation generated 430 responses from a wide range of organisation types and individuals, spanning educational institutions, industry, awarding organisations, representative bodies, local authorities and others. We also held a series of ten consultation events around the country, with over 500 people attending. We are carefully reviewing all responses to the consultation, and will publish a response in due course. We are planning to introduce the first three T levels from September 2020 and will shortly be announcing the providers who will be delivering these. In the 2017 Spring Budget, we announced further funding, rising to £500 million a year, to cover the additional taught hours and industry placement requirements for T levels. We will be asking providers to complete a data collection about their plans to implement T levels, which we will use to develop a programme of support that will be made available to all providers.

T-levels: Publicity

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps his Department is taking to promote the (a) awareness of and (b) the changes relating to T-Levels.

Anne Milton: We have engaged with a range of key audiences through a number of different channels to increase the understanding of T levels. We published the T level Action Plan last October, which set out our plans for the implementation of T levels and recent policy decisions. This was followed by a series of open engagement events to help raise awareness and ask attendees for their views. The events were well attended and well received. We ran a public consultation from 30 November 2017 to 8 February 2018 to obtain views on particular elements of our proposals for T levels. The consultation generated 430 responses from a wide range of organisation types. We held ten consultation events around the country, with over 500 people attending. We will publish a response in due course. In November 2017, the Confederation of British Industry supported the department’s Skills Summit which was attended by over 100 employers and included specific sessions on T levels. We engage regularly with our delivery partners through various activities as we move closer to first implementation in 2020. For example, we have invited providers to express an interest to deliver the first three T levels in 2020 and to bid for funding to build capacity within their own organisations to deliver industry placements. We have also begun more sustained engagement with employers on the design and delivery of industry placements. Engagement with our key partners will continue to increase as we move further into the implementation phase. We will increase promotions of T Levels on a frequent basis.

T-levels

Ian Mearns: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to ensure that T-level (a) routes are sufficiently flexible to enable learners to change course and (b) qualifications are transferable to allow people a range of career options.

Anne Milton: We recognise that, as is the case for current provision, some students will choose to change T levels after starting their course. We want to ensure that T level courses accommodate this flexibility. We will be working with the providers of the first T levels in 2020/21 and 2021/22 to explore how courses could be designed which allow students to change to another T level early on in the course without it affecting their progress. We have also ensured the core component of the T level includes content common across all T levels within a route, which will help support this. T levels are much broader in content than apprenticeships. Students will learn about a range of different occupations in the sector and develop skills common to each, meaning they will have more options and scope to move occupations once in work.

Apprentices: Low Incomes

Giles Watling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department plans to make low income apprentices with children eligible for the (a) Care to Learn Scheme and (b) Childcare Grant.

Giles Watling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether his Department plans to make low income apprentices eligible for (a) student bursaries and (b) income support.

Giles Watling: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment his Department has made of the financial effect on low income families with a child that undertakes an apprenticeship.

Anne Milton: One of the core principles of an apprenticeship is that it is a paid job with training, allowing apprentices to earn while they learn, and it is treated accordingly in the benefit system. Apprentices are not required to pay for their training or assessment. A young person on an apprenticeship will receive at least the apprentice national minimum wage, which increased to £3.70 per hour in April 2018. In England, the mean pay for level 2 apprentices is £6.69; the level 2 median pay is £6.35. The mean pay rate for level 3 apprentices is £7.38; the level 3 median pay is £7.10. We are not currently considering extending the scope of Care to Learn, student financial support including the 16-19 Bursary Fund or the Childcare Grant to apprenticeships as they are classed as paid contractual employment with training. We are creating an apprenticeship system that is open to a wide range of people. As we continue to reform the apprenticeships system we will keep our funding for apprentices with additional needs under review. For apprentices claiming benefits in their own right, financial support is available for those on low incomes. Eligible apprentices may be able to claim Universal Credit or Tax Credits to help with living costs. Universal Credit is also an in-work benefit, so claimants in work on low wages, including apprentices under contract, can continue to claim support for housing. Parents of apprentices are not, however, eligible to claim Child Benefit, as apprentices, like other employees, earn a wage. In addition, an apprentice may be entitled to the usual in-work benefits, such as Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credits. If an apprentice has children, is aged 16 or over and does paid work of at least 16 hours a week then they could qualify for tax credits, unless they are already earning £25,000 per year or more. Statutory Sick Pay is paid on the basis of the level of earnings in the relevant period. Disabled apprentices may be entitled to Access to Work payments to help with any support needed to do their job such as assistive technology or an assistant.

Children's Centres: Closures

Tracy Brabin: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, pursuant to the Answer of 23 April 2018 to Question 136295 on Children’s Centres: Closures, what assessment has been made of the potential merits of requiring local authorities to report children’s centre closures in real time.

Nadhim Zahawi: Holding answer received on 17 May 2018



As indicated in my answer to question 136295, the current children’s centre statutory guidance says that local councils should update their children’s centre data on a regular basis to reflect any changes to provision. We believe that this is fit for purpose and do not believe it is necessary to place an explicit requirement on local authorities to report children’s centre closures in ‘real time’.

Ministry of Justice

Animal Welfare: Kent

Rehman Chishti: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many animal cruelty (a) offences and (b) convictions there have been in Kent in each year since 2010.

Dr Phillip Lee: The number of offenders found guilty of offences under Sections 4 to 8 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, in the Kent Police Force area, from 2010 to 2017, can be viewed in the attached table.



Table
(Excel SpreadSheet, 12.82 KB)

Prime Minister

Northern Ireland Government

Lady Hermon: To ask the Prime Minister, pursuant to her oral contribution of 9 May 2018, Official Report, column 677, what the evidential basis was for her statement that the only people being investigated for past issues are people in our armed forces or those who served in law enforcement in Northern Ireland; and if she will make a statement.

Mrs Theresa May: I refer the hon. Member to the Written Statement made by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, my right hon. Friend the Member for Staffordshire Moorlands (Mrs Bradley) on 14 May 2018, Official Report, HCWS682.https://www.parliament.uk/business/publications/written-questions-answers-statements/written-statement/Commons/2018-05-14/HCWS682/

Ministry of Defence

Ministry of Defence: Computers

Douglas Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many (a) desktop, (b) laptop and (c) tablet computers were lost by his Department in the years (i) 2015-16, (ii) 2016-17 and (iii) 2017-18.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Ministry of Defence (MOD) treats all breaches of security very seriously and requires all breaches to be reported regardless of whether there is firm evidence of loss or just an inability to account for some devices. All incidents are subjected to an initial security risk assessment with further action taken on a proportionate basis.For financial year 2017-18, the following figures were reported as unaccounted for: - 30 desktop computers, 81 laptop computers and one tablet.For financial year 2016-17, the following figures were reported as unaccounted for: - 19 desktop computers, 51 laptop computers and five tablets.For financial year 2015-16, the following figures were reported as unaccounted for: - 694 desktop computers, 64 laptop computers and five tablets.689 of the 694 desktop computers reported as unaccounted for in 2015-16 were part of a single incident highlighted by an Asset Management Audit. Subsequent investigations suggest that it is likely that the incident was the result of an accounting error, with no evidence that any of the assets were lost or stolen.It is MOD policy that all laptops, tablet computers and removable media are encrypted to minimise the impact if a loss were to occur.

Tornado Aircraft

Martin Docherty-Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 30 April 2018 to question 136899, if he will provide details of the minimum safe height/sink rate/speed/bank angle envelope, as stated in the tornado aircrew manual.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The attached page from the July 2012 version of the Tornado Aircrew Manual provides details of the minimum ejection heights. This version remains current.



Minimum Ejection Heights
(PDF Document, 25.34 KB)

Ministry of Defence: Radioactive Materials

Deidre Brock: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the protected nuclear safety baseline staff complement numbers are for each of the nuclear authorities within his Department; and how many authorisees were in post as of 31 December 2017.

Guto Bebb: The attached table summarises the number of nuclear organisational baseline posts for each nuclear authority within the Ministry of Defence (MOD). As of 31 December 2017, there was a full complement of six Authorisees in post. A nuclear organisational baseline is a requirement of the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator. Some, but not all, baseline posts require Nuclear Suitably Qualified and Experienced Personnel (NSQEP), and not all NSQEP are employed in baseline posts.



142887 - MOD Nuclear Organisational Posts
(Word Document, 24.76 KB)

Military Aircraft: Helicopters

Mrs Madeleine Moon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many Airbus (a) H135 and (b) H145 helicopters his Department has purchased for use as training aircraft.

Guto Bebb: The Ministry of Defence has purchased 29 H135 helicopters and three H145 helicopters for use as training aircraft.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Fisheries: Orkney and Shetland

Mr Alistair Carmichael: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what legal identity is planned to be in place to prevent EU vessels operating inside the Orkney and Shetland 12 nautical mile zone during the proposed 21-month implementation period after EU treaties and the derogation for exclusive use of the Orkney and Shetland 12 nautical mile zone cease to apply to the UK.

George Eustice: The implementation period agreed between the UK and EU was endorsed by the European Council on 22 March. Under the agreement, current fisheries rules and enforcement arrangements will continue to apply. This includes provisions relating to access to waters within the UK’s 6-12 nautical mile zone. Access to fish in UK waters after the implementation period will be a matter for negotiation. Access will be on our terms, under our control and for the benefit of UK fishermen.

Furs: Farms

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment he has made of the adequacy of animal welfare in fur farms in (a) Poland, (b) Finland, (c) China and (d) France that export fur to the UK.

George Eustice: The Government shares the British public’s high regard for animal welfare and, after we leave the EU, the Government plans to retain the current regulations relating to fur imports. Strict rules apply to fur farming in the EU and there are legal frameworks for the farming of fur animals in some non-EU countries, including minimum standards and welfare inspections. Many major fur companies also have their own standards that they audit with their producers.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Caernarfon

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many departmental jobs are being transferred from the Welsh Government building in Caernarfon to the site at Victoria Dock.

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the new departmental site in Victoria Dock, Caernarfon is owned by the Government or is rented property.

George Eustice: Although commercial offices at Victoria Dock were considered as part of an options appraisal for the relocation of Defra staff based in Caernarfon, the decision has been made to relocate to Gwynedd Council’s offices at Penrallt. All staff currently located in the Welsh Government offices at North Penrallt will relocate to the Council offices.

Agriculture

Luke Graham: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what his Department's policy is on the establishment of UK-wide frameworks for agriculture after the UK leaves the EU.

George Eustice: We are committed to working closely with the devolved administrations on the development of common frameworks that work for the whole of the UK and reflect the devolution settlements of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Common frameworks should only be established where they are needed, whether this is to maintain a functioning UK internal market, to strike trade deals, or to provide the certainty needed to meet international obligations.

European Maritime and Fisheries Fund

Peter Aldous: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what (a) legislation and (b) regulations govern the UK government’s ability to provide match funding for European Maritime and Fisheries Fund projects; and  whether those rules apply to his Department's executive agencies in the same way as his Department.

Peter Aldous: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the rules governing match funding contributions by the UK Government and the Devolved Administrations to European Maritime and Fisheries Fund projects are required to be applied in the same way in (a) England, (b) Scotland and (c) Wales.

Peter Aldous: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the Government is permitted to provide additional funding to the match-funding contribution of the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund projects.

George Eustice: The principle legislation governing the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) is The EMFF Regulation (EU 508/2014) and the Common Provisions Regulation (EU1303/2013). The EMFF regulation provides for co-financing of EMFF funds between the European Commission (EC) and the member states. Both regulations have direct effect in the UK, and apply to the Department and its executive agencies. The EU regulations are enabled in domestic legislation by the Grants for Fishing and Aquaculture Industries Regulations 2015. Under the EMFF Regulation, the UK is obliged to submit to the European Commission the UK EMFF Operational Programme (OP), which the EC adopted on 30 November 2015. Any subsequent changes to the UK’s OP must be submitted to the EC for approval and may only take effect once that approval is granted. In adopting the OP, governance arrangements have been put in place which underpin the implementation of EMFF for the purposes of awarding funding to projects. These arrangements are documented in the EMFF Management and Control System, with customer facing guidance notes outlining the national rules on the application of match funding publicised on each devolved administration website. National match funding contributions were determined by each devolved administration based on specific policy priorities. This took into consideration the availability of ‘other national’ funding sources. The application of match funding allocated to projects is carried out across the UK in line with the Operational Programme. In the 2018/19 financial year, Defra has made available up to £3.8 million in national match towards eligible EMFF projects in England.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs: Paternity Leave

Justin Madders: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many male staff of his Department have taken shared parental leave; and what the average length of that leave was.

George Eustice: In the department since April 2015, 11 male staff have taken shared parental leave and the average length was 61 days.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Local Government Finance

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government, what representations he has received from local authorities on their use of reserves; and if he will make a statement.

Rishi Sunak: We routinely engage with a variety of local authorities and receive representations on a variety of matters on a regular basis, which may include reserves.

Cabinet Office

Employment: Hearing Impairment

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the number of people with hearing impairments who are (a) in work and (b) in training or further education.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Response 
(PDF Document, 93.05 KB)

Unemployment: Visual Impairment

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what recent estimate he has made of the number of people with visual impairments who are (a) unemployed and (b) not in training or further education.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Response 
(PDF Document, 93.05 KB)

Employment: Visual Impairment

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the number of school leavers and adults with visual impairments who are in (a) work (b) training and (c) further education.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Response 
(PDF Document, 93.05 KB)

Employment: Dyslexia

Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what estimate he has made of the number of school leavers and adults with dyslexia who are (a) in work and (b) in training or further education.

Chloe Smith: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply.



UKSA Response 
(PDF Document, 125.68 KB)

European Parliament: Elections

Mr Virendra Sharma: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, whether the Government has taken steps to prepare for holding the 2019 European Elections.

Chloe Smith: Following the EU Referendum and the European Union (Notification of Withdrawal) Act 2017, the UK will cease to be a member of the European Union on 29th March 2019. At that point, we will no longer sit at the European Council table or in the Council of Ministers and we will no longer have Members of the European Parliament. We will therefore not be taking part in the European Parliamentary elections in 2019 which are currently scheduled to be held from 23rd to 26th May 2019. Given this, the Government does not consider it is necessary or a prudent use of taxpayers’ money for Returning Officers and electoral administrators to make the usual preparations for the conduct of a European Parliamentary poll in 2019. The Government does not intend to make an Order setting the date of the poll for the European Parliamentary elections in 2019. We also do not intend to undertake the usual preparations for Information Exchange between the UK and the Member States in respect of EU citizens (including UK citizens) living in another Member State. In due course, the intention is to repeal the underlying pieces of legislation providing for the holding of European Parliamentary elections in the UK under the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill. Once that Bill has Royal Assent, all associated legislation will be repealed through Parliament by means of a Statutory Instrument made under powers in the Bill. We estimate that not holding European Parliamentary elections will save British taxpayers at least £109 million next year; this is in addition to the cost of the British contribution to the EU budget.